Game apparatus.



PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905.

.1. L. E. PELL.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.12,1905.

" N ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

' Patented Dee. 26, 1905,

Application filed January 12, 1905. Serial No. 240,676.

T a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN L. E. PELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Great Barrington, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a clear, full, and exact description.

My invention relates to a game apparatus, particularly one which simulates a game of foot-ball; and my object is to improve and simplify the construction.

My invention will be set forth in the claims.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my playing-board with the play-pieces or men in position. Fig. 2 is an plan view of the same with the play-pieces arranged slightly differently. Fig. 3 is a section of Fig. 2 on the line a: x. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of one of the line men. Fig. 5 is a side view of the same. Fig. G is a front elevation of one of the bacls,and Fig. 7 is a side view of the saine.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable playing-board, which, if desired7 may be of the construction illustrated, which has an oblong frame consisting of side pieces 1 2 and shorter end pieces 3 and 4. If desired,l

each end piece may be pivoted to aside piece, as shown by the hinges 5 and 6, so that the frame may be easily folded together.

7 and 8 indicate suitable means for holding the parts in their opened or extended position, in this case consisting of a hook and eye.

The playing-field 9 may be of any suitable construction; but I prefer to use a green cloth, and, if desired, this may be suitably stretched byhooks 10 on the frame and a cord 11 ,which passes through suitable eyes in the cloth, as shown. The boardis preferably marked with side lines 12 and 13 and transverse lines 14, which latter simulate the five-yard lines on a foot-ball field. At each end of the field goal-posts 15 and 16 may be provided, if desired.

The play-pieces or men comprise two sets, each preferably of eleven men, and the men of each set may have a common visual characteristic which is different from the men of the other set, so that the sets may be easily distinguished. In the embodiment shown in the drawings I have in Fig. 1 stippled the men of the set nearest to the observer and have left the men of the other set plain, While in Fig. 2 the set at the left of the board is white and those of the set at the right are dark colored.

17 and 18 represent one embodiment of a pair of supports, which are substantially parallel and extend over, preferably transversely of, the board a short distance above the same. These supports may be in the form of wires, as shown, and are adapted to be moved over said board in a direction transverse to their length. In the present embodiment I have suitably bent the wires, as shown at 19, and provided a foot 20, which will rest inside of the frame and upon the cloth, so as to hold the Wire in whatever position it maybe moved to. It will be obvious that the two wires may be moved up and down the field. Depending from each of said supports is preferably a plurality of play-pieces or men. prefer to have these play-pieces so constructed that they are slidable on the support, and they may also be pivoted to the support so as to swing below the same. In the embodiment shown in the drawings I have provided seven play-pieces for each support, each of which pieces is of the construction shown in Fig. 5, the ring 21 being adapted to receive the wire support, by which the piece is both slidable upon the wire and pivoted thereon. I also prefer to form each of these pieces in sections and pivot the sections together. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the head 22 is pivoted to the body 23, and this in turn is pivoted to the legs 24. Preferably the pieces supported by the wire are of a length just sufficient so that the feet 25 of the man will rest upon the cloth when the men are idly hanging from the support. Separate play-pieces 26 may be provided for each setthat is, pieces which are not attached to the supports. These pieces represent the backs.4

One of them is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, and I may provide each or any of them with a re-` cess 27, into which a separate play-piece or ball may be set as a convenient means of attaching the ball to such piece. These backs 26 are adapted to rest on the board and be freely slid along the same, and I prefer to provide each of them with a comparatively broad base 29, as by such a base the back -may be snapped forward by the fingers of the player and will slide along the board without easily upsetting.

In playing the game the two lines of men IOS held by the wires 17 18 are lined up opposite each other where the ball is supposed to be down, as roughly indicated in Fig. 2.

-The player who has possession of the ball then attaches the ball to one of the backs and snaps him forward, endeavoring to make him pass through the lines of men, thus simulating a line-bucking play. The ball is down where the back stops. If the men hanging from the wires are slidable thereon, it will be obvious that a person playing on the defensive may mass his defense by moving his men together, thus massing his defensive play upon any one particular spot. The person who is playing on the offensive may also simulate a tandem play by placing two or three backs in line and snapping them forward together.' The backs of the set which is on the defensive may be suitably placed to prevent end runs, if desired; but the rules of the game may be widely varied, so as to as near as possible simulate the actualgame of foot-ball.

I am aware that many variations from the construction shown may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention as claimed, and I therefore do not desire to limit myself to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

What I claim is- ,Y

1. In a game apparatus in combination, a playing-board, a pair of substantially parallel supports extending transversely of said board above the same and adapted to be moved over said board in a direction transverse to their length, each of said supports having depending therefrom a plurality of play-pieces, and one or more separate playpieces adapted to rest on said board and be slid along the same.

2. In a game apparatus in combination, a playing-board, a pair of substantially parallel supports extending transversely of said board above the same and adapted to be moved over said board in a direction transverse to their length, each of-said supports having depending therefrom a plurality of play-pieces slidable on said support, and one or more separate play-pieces adapted to rest on said board and be slid along the same.

3. In a game apparatus in combination, a playing-board, a pair of substantially arallel supports extending transversely o said board above the same and adapted to be moved over said board in a direction trans'- verse to their length, each of said supports having swinging below the same a plurality of play-pieces, and one or more separate playpieces adapted to rest on said board and be slid along the same.

4'. In a game apparatus in combination, a

I playing-board, a pair of substantially parallel supports extending transversely of said board above the same and adapted to be moved over said board in a direction transverse to their length, each of said supports having depending therefrom a plurality of play-pieces, some of said pieces being formed of sections pivoted together, and one or more separate play-pieces adapted to rest on said board and be slid along the same.

5. In a game apparatus in combination, a

`playing-board, a pair of substantially parallel supports extending transversely of said board above the same and adapted to be moved over said board in a direction transverse to their length, each of said supports having depending therefrom a plurality of play-pieces, and one or more separate playpieces adapted to rest on said board and be slid along the same, each of said separate pieces having a broad base.

6. In a game apparatus in combination, a playing-board marked with parallel transverse lines, a pair of substantially parallel supports extending transversely of said board above the same and adapted to be moved over said board in a direction transverse to their length, each of said supports having depending therefrom a plurality of play-pieces, and one or more separate play-pieces adapted to rest on said board and lbe slid along the same.

7. In a game apparatus in combination, a playing-board, a pair of substantially parallel supports extending transversely of said board above the same and adapted to be moved over said board in a direction transverse to their length, each of said supports having depending therefrom a plurality of Y play-pieces, and one or more separate playpieces adapted to rest on said board and be slid along the same7 and a ball adapted to be attached to and carried by said separate piece.

8. In a game apparatus in combination, a playing-board marked with parallel transverse lines, a pair of substantially parallel wires 'extending transversely of said board above the same and adapted to be slid over said board in a direction transverse to their length, each of said wires having swinging below the same seven play-pieces slidable lengthwise on said support, each of said pieces being formed of sections pivoted together, and eight separate play-pieces adapted to rest on said board and be slid along the same and each having a broad base, and a lball adapted to be attached to and carried by at least two of said separate pieces.

9. In a game apparatus in combination, a playing-board, two sets of eleven men each, the men of each set having a common visual characteristic different from the men of the other set, whereby said sets maybe distinguished, a plurality of men of each of said sets being shorter than the rest of said men and provided with a broad base whereby said IOO IIO

nien niay be snapped Jforward by the ngers ofthe player and slide along said board Without easily upsetting.

10. In a game apparatus in combination7 a playing-board, a plurality of substantially parallel supports extending over said board above the same and adapted to be moved over said board in a direction transverse to their length, playpieces dependingthere` from, and one or more separate play-pieces ro adaptedto rest on said board and be slid along the saine.

Signed at Great Barrington, Massaohusetts, this 5th day of January, 1905.

JOHN L. E. PELL. Witnesses:

MELANIE CURTISS JOYNER, ELsrE K. SMITH. 

